Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 22:07:29 +0000
From: Charlotte Glen
Subject: Avocado producing fruit trees
This is a response to deloispopp, who posted on Sunday:
“Research on avocado trees says they can be grown in all 50 states… does anyone have experience with this and how they grow and produce fruit in this area? thanks….”
Avocado trees for fruit production can only be grown in areas that are relatively frost free, such as southern California and southern Florida. Even the hardiest varieties can only survive temperatures in the 20’s.
In colder areas, avocado is sometimes grown as a houseplant, but it is not realistic to expect fruit production when grown indoors. You can grow an avocado tree from seed saved from an avocado fruit. Before starting one, make sure you have plenty of room – avocado can become a large tree. Indoors they need bright light and warm, humid conditions. Avocado trees grown from seed take 10-15 years to produce fruit. Even at that age, it is unlikely trees grown indoors would fruit because of pollination requirements and insufficient growing conditions (low light levels, less than ideal temperatures).
Learn more!
Learn how to grow an avocado from seed in a glass of water from this Nebraska Extension factsheet: http://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/youth/avocado.shtml
This factsheet from Florida Extension discusses growing avocados outdoors in southern Florida: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg213
Learn how avocado are grown outside in Texas from this Texas Extension factsheet: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/fruit/avocado2.html
Charlotte Glen
Extension Horticulture Agent
NC Cooperative Extension – Chatham County Center
919-542-8202
http://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/